Chronological History of the American Civil War

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take over the ship, steering her for Bermuda. He determines, he could not use the ship and burns it, gets caught, but he is later released and never is heard from again. First Lieutenant Thomas B. Wright (U.S.) during a short battle in Waynesville, Missouri claims to have killed “Bloody Bill” Anderson, but history later will prove him wrong. September, 1864 comes and goes and with it so did another 14,000 casualties. Saturday, October 1, 1864: Everyone has to do their duty, so President Lincoln selects John Summerfield Staples to “substitute” for him, and serve in the army in his place. President Lincoln pays him $500 for doing his service time. The body of Rose O’Neal Greenhow was found on a beach near Wilmington, North Carolina. She was one of the foremost Confederate spies in Washington, D.C. and passed on to General Beauregard (CSA) the plans of General McDowell (U.S.) on the eve of what became known as the Battle of Bull Run. On a return trip from Europe, her ship runs aground and fearing it might be boarded, while carrying papers and a reputed $2,000 in gold in a bag around her neck, she demanded to be put ashore in a small boat. The boat capsized in the surf and, pulled under by the gold, Mrs. Greenhow was drowned. Sunday, October 2, 1864 : Fighting continues in Georgia at Big Shanty and the Kennesaw Water Tank as Lieut. General John B. Hood’s (CSA) tears up the tracks of the Western and Atlantic Railroad, which is one of Major General William T. Sherman’s (U.S.) communication and supply lines. Confederates at Saltville, Virginia stop the Union attacks that threaten much needed salt supplies. Major General Sterling Price (CSA) rebel’s occupy Washington, Missouri just 50 miles from St. Louis. Some skirmishing with General Forrest’s troops, as he crosses the Duck River near Columbia, Tennessee. After building bridges over the Wolf and Hatchie Rivers, Brig. General Edward Hatch (U.S.) enters Bolivar, Tennessee and reports: “I hear of a force some 400 - 600 at Jackson, but I shall not disturb them. I have captured a few prisoners.” General Washburn (U.S.) now orders General Hatch in Bolivar to cross the Tennessee River at Decatur County. Following Nashville’s example, Memphis requires all prostitutes to register and receive a medical examination in order to receive health care at the City Hospital on Exchange and Front Streets. By February 1865, 134 prostitutes will be registered (at $10 plus $2.50 for the test), earning the city $6,428.65 in fees. Monday, October 3, 1864 : Jefferson Davis stops and makes a speech at Columbia, South Carolina, declaring, that if everyone supported the work of Hood, he was confident that Sherman would be defeated. Hood’s men, meanwhile destroys the track of the Chattanooga-Atlanta railroad, causing a further blow to Sherman. Sherman finally orders General George H. Thomas (U.S.) back to Nashville to defend against this harassment in his rear.

Near Harrisonburg, Virginia after learning that some of his men were executed by the Federals, Lt. Col. John S. Mosby (CSA) sought some payback. Mosby came upon Lt. John R. Meigs (U.S.) (pictured) returning to the Union camp there. Meigs was a topographical engineer and the son of Quartermaster General Montgomery C. Meigs (U.S.) (designer of the cemetery being made at “Arlington,” General Robert E. Lee’s home in Virginia.) Meigs and two of his orderlies saw Mosby and his men riding towards them. In the rain, they thought that they were Union cavalry, until the Confederates shot and killed Meigs. Strange, the young Meigs will be laid to rest at Oak Hill Cemetery in Georgetown

near Washington, D.C. and not at Arlington.